Second Ebola patient to receive experimental treatment in U.S.

Tuesday, August 05, 2014 - 01:08

Disease experts weigh in on Ebola cure as a second patient arrives in U.S. for experimental treatment. Mana Rabiee reports.

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One walked into the hospital...
The other was taken on a stretcher...
But both U.S. aid workers stricken with the deadly Ebola virus are now said to be improving.
That may be because Dr. Kent Brantly and missionary Nancy Writebol each received an experimental drug for Ebola.
It's called ZMapp and it's only been tested on monkeys until now.
They're in the same isoaltion ward at Emory Univeristy Hospital in Atlanta.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, SAYING:
"We're hearing, I don't have direct knowledge of this, but what has been announced from the people taking care of them, that they also have received this cocktail of antibodies which is designed to block the virus. And the reports that we are getting from Atlanta, from Emory is that that is having a positive effect."
The drug is so experiemental, Brantly and Writbol are the only cases of Ebola authorized to it.
Dr. Fauci thinks it's too soon to tell if the durg will lead to a cure.
But as experts weigh in on this possible treatment for Ebola, two anxcious patients are hoping this is the answer they've been waiting for.

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